PART ONE of David Unsworth’s four-game audition for the Everton job went reasonably last night, even if their run of games without a win was stretched to six following defeat by Chelsea.

Anonymous before half-time, Everton went behind to a header from Antonio Rudiger but responded with spirit in a lively second half. Willian’s 90th-minute strike seemed to have settled the outcome for the Blues, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin forced home a shot even later to keep Everton hopes alive right up to the final whistle, though it was the hosts who progressed to the quarter-finals.Chelsea made nine changes to the side that started Saturday’s victory over Watford, with only Rudiger and captain Gary Cahill keeping their places.Unsworth’s first Everton side looked much more potent on paper. Six of the team that began the 5-2 home defeat by Arsenal that ultimately cost Ronald Koeman his job as manager retained their places and the bench was strong.Unsworth, previously in charge of Everton’s Under-23 team, gave a debut to 19-year-old Beni Baningime, who has been compared to N’Golo Kante, the Chelsea and France midfield dynamo.Michy Batshuayi had the first chance, turning quickly on a pass from Cahill only to find Phil Jagielka moving swiftly to block.

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At first openings were hard to find as Everton defended in numbers, with only Wayne Rooney forward.

Davide Zappacosta tried to find a way around their left flank, outpacing Kevin Mirallas and then jinking around Leighton Baines, but he ran out of room before he could cross the ball.

Everton were working hard and tackling hard for the new man in their technical area but they were caught out twice as Chelsea took the lead in the 26th minute.

First they fell asleep as Willian played a corner short to Charly Musonda. And then they left Rudiger unmarked at the far post to meet Musonda’s cross and send a looping header back over Jordan Pickford and into the net.

The speed of Zappacosta again threatened to open up the visitors’ backline, Ashley Williams just getting a foot to the ball before the pass could reach Batshuayi.

Two minutes before the interval a slick move through the centre was too quick for Everton, but when Willian played the ball out to Zappacosta, the wing-back hit the side-netting.

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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte screams at his players from the touchline

Everton were having to resort to fouls to stop Chelsea on occasion but then began to create chances.

First Jonjoe Kenny crossed from the right and Mirallas, unmarked, cushioned a header forward to Rooney, who saw his volley well saved by Willy Caballero.

Caballero was then too casual in kicking clear as Tom Davies attempted to close him down and sent the ball straight at Aaron Lennon. Luckily for the goalkeeper, the ball cannoned off the Everton winger and straight back into his gloves.

Chelsea, though, looked uncomfortable for the first time in the match and Rudiger just got to a long cross before Lennon could pounce.

Caballero then threw himself to his left to parry Jagielka’s headed flick from Baines’s free-kick. And then the goalkeeper produced his best save, diving to his left to deny Mirallas.

Substitute Ademola Lookman dribbled round Cahill only to fire wide, then fired a more impressive-angled shot that hit the bar. But Everton then created a chance for Chelsea. Rooney passed back without looking and Batshuayi was through.

He clipped the ball past Pickford but it did not have enough pace so he ran on to it, but collided with a post as Jagielka challenged and the ball ran wide.

Willian did beat Pickford in the 90th minute, with Calvert-Lewin pulling a goal back for the Toffees at the death as Chelsea progressed.